Doctors' group welcomes $68m RFDS boost
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The Rural Doctors Association has welcomed a major funding boost for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).
The Western Australian Government has upheld an election commitment by providing the service with $68 million for aeroplanes and equipment.
The RFDS says the funding commitment means, for the first time, the organisation has the full backing of the Government.
The association's WA president, Rob Whitehead, says the additional funding will help rural doctors.
"The RFDS plays such an essential role in our rural health services, it's great that the money is going here, it is needed," he said.
"Putting money into rural hospitals of course is always desirable, but we can never deal with all of the medical challenges that a rural doctor faces in the local environment. If you're critically unwell and you need to be in intensive care, you need the RFDS."
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